With 18 stages scattered throughout the venue, deciding which performances to watch at the Oregon Country Fair can be a hard decision. This year, I took the “wander around and see what happens” approach to OCF entertainment. Here are some photos and reviews of the shows I saw:

The first act to draw me in from the Fair trail was Mz Imani and the Rhythm Shamans, who performed at the Spirit Tower. This lively, freewheeling act was like dipping your toes into the wading pool of OCF-ness: Mz Imani’s chants of spirituality and self-empowerment beat in perfect time to pounding drums and bongos. Although enchanting, I was eager to see what else was at the Fair.

I stumbled upon Mud Bay Jugglers and Tune Stranglers at W.C. Fields. The performance opened with a spirited introduction of each band member and instrument and concluded with flame-filled juggling stunts. It was great to watch for a spell, but I decided to leave after fifteen minutes or so.

Before heading to Medium Troy’s performance, I caught the end of the Ras Gabriel set at the Hoarse Chorale. The small space was filled with dancing bodies and equally-groovin’ reggae beats. I was sad to have seen only five minutes of the act, and later failed to determine if they had another performance to catch.

Introduced as “the band that always sells out at the WOW Hall,” Medium Troy performed on the Main Stage at 2 p.m. Their energy-driven “bohemian dub” act drew a large crowd of college groupies and Fairgoers alike. After the show, lead singer JoJo said his guitar led to technical difficulties during the show, but I hadn’t noticed. This was Medium Troy’s first time playing at OCF, but members divulged they had played at various pre-Fair shows and select family campsites. Formed in early November 2006, the band has already earned two “Favorite Local Band” awards and will play select dates at the Warped Tour this August.

Some of the guys from Medium Troy insisted I catch The Sugar Beets‘ 20th anniversary performance early Sunday morning. Hailed as a dance-inspiring community band, this act fully captured the Oregon Country Fair experience. At first I thought the Sugar Beets would sound just like all the other bluegrass-folk acts, but I was wrong. Feet stomped as guitar, violin and saxophone melodies filled the air, and it wasn’t long before the field became a giant dance party. Later, the eight-person band was joined by a go-go dance troupe and Eugene’s Samba Ja percussion ensemble. I was so glad I caught this performance, which turned out to be my favorite of all this weekend, because it was a great reminder of how music can transcend societal expectations and bring together people of all walks of life.

Later I met up with some friends to watch Jason Webley in the Monkey Palace. They said he was great, this “stomping, screaming, accordion vegetable guy,” but I was unimpressed with his performance. Maybe it was because it was Sunday and he’d already done some sets this weekend, but he was unorganized and clearly irritated in the summer swelter. He would start a song with great enthusiasm, but get frustrated and quit the song after a minute or so. From what I heard, though, I imagine he would be a good entertainer under normal circumstances.

I left the Monkey Palace early to watch V in the Rabbit Hole. Initially, I was intrigued by his “positive, eco-friendly rapper” tagline in the Fair program, but I had to fight the urge to leave his set early. What soiled my experience wasn’t V’s rap – his lyrics of activism and self respect were en pointe. Instead, it was the way he handled his technical difficulties (by harping on the sound technicians while on stage) that overshadowed his performance.

For those in Lane County, Oregon, you still have plenty of time to catch these OCF entertainers. Ras Gabriel will play at The Granary Pizza (formerly Jo Fed’s) in Eugene at 8 p.m. this Thursday, July 15. The Sugar Beets will perform a free concert at the City of Springfield‘s 125th Birthday this Sunday, July 18, 2 p.m. at Island Park. And for Seattle folk, this weekend also brings Jason Webley‘s “Hockey Star” CD release party, which will take place Saturday, July 17, 8 p.m. at Hale’s Palladium.